February 20, 2009

REGION 5 ETA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LETTER 003-09

TO: Region 5 State Workforce Investment Administrators

FROM:      Nicholas Lammers
                    NICHOLAS LAMMERS
                   Acting Regional Administrator

SUBJECT: DOL National Farmworker Services Conference, April 1-2, San Antonio

1. Purpose. To advise State Workforce Administrators (SWAs) of the National Farmworker Services Conference, to be held in San Antonio, Texas, April 1-2, 2009 after the MAFO (National Partnership of Rural and Farmworker Organizations) 2009 National Farmworker Conference (March 30-April 1, 2009).

2. References. None.

3. Links. The Letter is in the Region 5 website archive at: http://www.doleta.gov/regions/reg05/pages/LibraryIssuances.cfm

4. Background. The Employment and Training Administration will hold a training and professional development workshop for all Monitor Advocates, Assistant Monitor Advocates, and other staff who are involved with Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) issues. To provide timely training on changes which impact MSFW services and to promote collaboration with farmworker organization partners, participation in the Monitor Advocate training is encouraged.

5. Substance. The objectives of the training are to: (a) provide best practices to Monitor Advocates to improve services and performance; (b) better integrate services to MSFWs and agricultural employers in the Workforce System; (c) better coordinate the enforcement of farmworker regulations; (d) facilitate the exchange of information among farmworker service providers; and (e) enhance communication and cooperation between farmworker groups and State and Federal officials.

The Monitor Advocate training agenda will include discussion of best practices for the delivery of services to farmworkers by the State Workforce Agencies; discussions on how the revised H2A regulations impact the Agricultural Recruitment System; how to coordinate farmworker regulations enforcement with other agencies; and training on the Complaint System. A draft agenda is attached.

6. Arrangements. The Monitor Advocate training sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. on April 1st and continue until 4:00 p.m. on April 2nd. The Monitor Advocate training will be held at:

Omni San Antonio Hotel
9821 Colonnade Boulevard
San Antonio, Texas 78230

The special rate for the Omni San Antonio Hotel during the training/conference will be $112.00 per night. For reservations, participants should contact the hotel directly by phone on 210.691.8888. Hotel reservations should be made and confirmed by March 13, 2009 to receive the special conference rate.

7. Action. State Administrators are requested to share this Letter with interested persons and encourage State Monitor Advocates and other staff involved with farmworker and one-stop services to attend the Monitor Advocate training.

8. Contact. Questions concerning the Monitor Advocate training should be directed to Eric Hernandez on 312.596. 5419. For further information about the MAFO conference, contact Lalo Zavala of MAFO on 320.251.1711.

9. Expiration Date: April 1, 2009

10. Attachments: Draft Agenda

Attachment

DOL National Farmworker Services Conference
April 1-2. 2009
Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade
9821 Colonnade Boulevard - San Antonio, Texas 78230
Phone: (210) 691-8888 - Fax: (210) 691-1128

**DRAFT AGENDA**
Wednesday April 1, 2009
10:30 AM – 10:50 AM	Welcome Joseph C. Juarez Regional Administrator Employment and Training Administration Region IV - Dallas, TX.
10:50 AM – 12:20 PM	Perspectives-Where We’ve Been, Where We Want To Go With the Monitor Advocate System Erik Lang, Trial Attorney, U.S.Department of Justice, Office of Special Counsel, Former Regional and National Monitor Advocate
12:20 PM – 1:30 PM	Lunch on your own
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM	National Perspective – ETA Leadership
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM	Requirements and Consequences - Complaint System Overview Juan Regalado, National Monitor Advocate, U.S. DOL Employment and Training Administration, Washington, D.C.
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM	Break
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM	Model Partnership - Coordinated Approach to Enforcement Michael Speer, Southwest Region Wage and Hour Division Juan Correa, Director, San Antonio Region Agricultural Enforcement Specialist, Dallas, Texas
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM	Recap day activities Oveview Next Day Schedule Adjourn
Thursday April 2, 2009
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM	Best Practices – Integration of Farmworker Services Linda Grisham, Executive Director, Florida Department of Education; Adult Migrant Program and Services, Tampa, FL SMAs to share best practices
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM	Break
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM	Reporting Requirements Training for SMAs ETA Form 5148
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM	Working Lunch – Guest Speaker Daniel Carroll, Office of the Assistant Secretary U.S.DOL - ETA, Washington, D.C. National Agricultural Worker Survey Aguirre International Rep TBD
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM	Impact of H2-A Final Rule, Clearance Order Requirements Agricultural Recruitment System Jesus Morales, Regional Monitor Advocate Francisco Cerda, State Monitor Advocate Texas Workforce Commission
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM	Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM	Effective Strategies to Increase Services and Performance State Monitor Advocates Panel Mary Lewis, OR Irene Laguna, NM Gloria Bostic, MN
3:45 Pm – 4:00 PM	Closing Remarks and Adjourn